Blog Posts

Gilbert Farmers Market — Check It Out

Welcome back to August Liv Northgate Blog! We’re here to be a resource with fun, useful ideas for how you can make your apartment living experience at our community a fulfilling one. In our last blog post, we highlighted National Cheesecake Day, yum! — And today we want to fill you in on the Gilbert Farmers Market . Read on to learn more tips for making the most of it! Know the logistics. Like any event, before you immerse yourself into it, pay attention to those small details that are easy to forget until you get there. For example, the Gilbert Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 7 AM - 11 AM (April/May through September) just west of the Iconic Water Tower. With over 60 vendors all year round, you will be able to select from a wide range of locally grown products from Arizona farms and food producers. According to the Gilbert Farmers Market website, “The market features local, chemical free, organic produce from many local farmers, farm fresh eggs, meat, cheese, bread, sweets, coffee & tea, sauces, seasonings and many other locally made artisan products.” Be open to trying new things. If you’ve ever been to a farmers market, you’ve probably noticed that sometimes there are fruits, produce, or other items (food-related or not!) that you may not recognize. Many vendors have samples available for you to try, so jump on the opportunity to try new things, at no cost to you. It will definitely be worth it if you find something you love! Come with recipes and meals in mind. While having an open mind is helpful for finding something delicious, you still want to actually use what you buy, and it’s easy to forget about foods that you’re not familiar with or that you’re not crazy about. So while you’re shopping, be sure to think of potential meals you can use your produce in. If you need extra guidance, come with specific meals in mind so you can know exactly what to buy. Ask questions. One of the benefits of shopping at a farmers market over a grocery store is you get face-to-face interaction with the growers of the food you’re eating! Take advantage of that and ask them any questions you may have about the growing process or even about ideas for using their products once you get home. They know it best and can give you great suggestions. What are your favorite ways to navigate a farmers market or make the most of your trip and the purchases? Share in the comments so we can try them before the month is through! Thanks for reading. Have fun, and good luck!

Celebrate National Cheesecake Day

Listen up Liv Northgate, National Cheesecake Day is coming up on the 30th, and we’ve got you covered for celebrating whether you go out for cheesecake at a local Gilbert, AZ restaurant or make cheesecake at home with one of these recipes. Cheesecake-Based Recipes Butter Pecan Cheesecake from Bake or Break Pecans are, in our opinion, one of the most underrated fall foods. We think you’ll love this butter pecan cheesecake. Make the crust with all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, and unsalted butter. The rich, creamy filling can be made with cream cheese, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream This recipe comes from Add a Pinch and can be made with or without an ice cream maker. Ingredients needed include the following: heavy cream, whole milk, cream cheese, vanilla extract, salt, fresh blueberries, water, sugar, cornstarch, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Cheesecake Stuffed Apples from Delish These cheesecake stuffed apples are a wonderful dessert for any special occasion. Use melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking apples, cream cheese, powdered sugar, pure vanilla extract, and crushed graham crackers to make it. This treat is warm, delicious, and comforting. If none of these recipes sound appealing, try out some of Delish’s cheesecake recipes to find one you enjoy! Mini Fruit Tart Cheesecakes from Crazy for Crust These mini cheesecake tarts are perfectly sized for easy consumption. To make them, you will need graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, unsalted butter, cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla bean paste, lime juice, cornstarch, and fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or blackberries). What are your favorite ways to rejuvenate and cut back on the stress? Share your ideas with our apartment community in the comments so we can try them out! Thanks for reading!

Honey Masks Made Simple for Every Skin Type

Welcome back to the blog for Liv Northgate! Our previous post covered self-care basics that can benefit everyone in our Gilbert, AZ apartment community. Today we wanted to expand on that by sharing the uses and benefits of honey in face masks . Try these suggestions based on your skin type to improve your complexion! One Ingredient Face Mask (For All Skin Types) All you will need is a spoonful of raw honey for this simple, skin improving face mask. Make sure skin is clean and free of any makeup and apply a spoonful of raw honey spread out evenly over your entire face and leave it on for 20 minutes to dry. Then rinse the dried honey off your face. Repeat two-three times a week for best results. Because honey is gentle on the skin, even those with sensitive skin can benefit from its cleansing and purifying effects. Apple Honey Mask (For Normal Skin) You will need a cored and sliced apple and two tablespoons of honey for this mask. Place the apple pieces in a food processor to chop them up. Add the honey and refrigerate the mixture for 10 minutes. Pat the cooled mixture onto your face, tapping until the honey feels tacky. Wear the mask for 30 minutes and then rinse off. Avocado & Honey Mask (For Dry Skin) Make this face mask with two tablespoons of avocado flesh, two tablespoons of honey, and one egg yolk. This hydrating mask also has anti-aging benefits and a lightening effect. Place all the ingredients in a blender or mash and mix them together by hand in a bowl. Use your fingers to spread the mask evenly over your face and neck and leave it on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing off. Almond Yogurt Honey Mask (For Tired Skin) Mix together six ounces of plain yogurt, ¼ ounce of finely crushed almonds, two teaspoons of honey, and two teaspoons of wheat germ oil until a smooth paste forms. Apply the mixture to your skin and keep on for 20 minutes. Honey-Papaya Mask (For Oily Skin) Combine ⅓ cup of cocoa powder, three teaspoons of heavy cream, ⅓ cup of ripe papaya, ¼ cup of honey, and three teaspoons of oatmeal powder. Apply the mixture to your face and wear for 10 mins. Wash the mask off with warm water. This anti-aging mask helps to heal, nourish, draw out impurities, and balance the pH level of your skin. Using this mask will also improve the radiance and softness of your skin. Pamper yourself in your apartment with these DIY face masks to reap the skincare benefits of honey. Thanks for reading!

Pamper Yourself with an At-Home Spa Experience

Summer is busy and all of the go, go, go can wear you out. Combat that by pampering yourself this month. Today in the Liv Northgate Blog we’ve got some ideas for how to do just that! Create a clean, soothing atmosphere in your apartment. Going to a spa in Gilbert, AZ to get your pampering in is a great option. But if you’d rather cut back on the cost and stay in, you can make your apartment feel like a spa by creating a similar feel of rest and relaxation. Clean your home, wash your sheets and towels, turn down the lights, and light a candle or put on a diffuser of your favorite relaxing scents to create a space where you can truly wind down. Take some time out to read that novel you’ve been meaning to take time for this summer. Here are a few suggestions from Goodreads: Celebrate Summer Reading on Goodreads . Treat yourself. Taking care of your mind and your body isn’t always at the top of our busy to-do lists, but now is the perfect time to make it a priority. Prepare for a relaxing mini-staycation and try some of these yoga poses for stress to get you ready for a nice sleep. Give yourself a manicure or pedicure (or invite friends over and do the spa treatment together). Prepare your perfect bath , buy or make your favorite treats, and make an at-home facial so you can feel refreshed and rejuvenated, but mostly so you can just enjoy your time away from your normal responsibilities. If these ideas don’t necessarily sound appealing to you, just do something that you normally don’t do — make it special for you so it’s really a break from the ordinary. What are your favorite ways to rejuvenate and cut back on the stress? Share your ideas with us in the comments so we can try them out! Thanks for reading!

Celebrating Independence Day

Independence Day is coming up this week, and the Liv Northgate Blog is filled with ideas for celebrating in style in true Arizona fashion. Let freedom ring! Independence Day Eats American Flag Berry Pie What better way to celebrate Independence Day this week than with a tasty American flag-themed pie? Add this to your festivities, picnics, and parade after-parties for a great way to show off your patriotism and good taste in food. We also really appreciate how the blog post for this recipe has nutritional information for you to reference. Patriotic Popcorn from Two Sisters Crafting Watching a movie in your apartment on the 4th of July? Try out this patriotic popcorn for your Independence Day movie marathon (actually, Independence Day might be a great movie to watch on Independence Day). Toss together popcorn, butter, mini marshmallows, and M&M’s to make this sweet treat. Independence Day Crafts American Flag Luminaries from Keep Calm and Decorate Pickle jars get a second life as glowing luminaries decoupaged with stars and stripes. Not a pickle fan? Mason jars also work. Set them on your porch or balcony and light them at night for a beautiful sight. Patriotic Flower Pot from Lolly Jane For this craft, you get to paint a flower pot to look like the American flag! Plant red, white, and blue flowers in the pot to enhance this effect. You will need foam brushes, a 10” flower pot, 3M painter’s tape, acrylic or chalky paint in red, white, and blue, and small star stickers. Gilbert’s 4th of July Celebration This is a free event with free parking! The site opens at 6:00 pm with the fireworks event scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm. Food trucks will be available at the Higley High School Campus or feel free to bring your own coolers with food and lots of water. Check Gilbert’s City’s 4th of July event website for additional viewing sites and information. Don’t forget the conversation at the dinner table or the parade! Take this time to catch up with loved ones you may only see during the holidays. Ask people for updates about their lives. Look for opportunities to serve others, in or out of your social circle. Spread some cheer and invite a neighbor or a friend who doesn’t have plans to yours! You may make cherished connections you’ll value long after this holiday if you do.

Good Eats: Blueberry Summer Treats

Summer is officially in full swing here in Arizona, and there’s better in the summertime than a nice blueberry treat. Get a headstart on celebrating National Blueberry Month next month! The Liv Northgate Blog is featuring five blueberry recipes to help you get ahead of the game. Blueberry Muffin Cookies from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen For a while, we were searching for an answer to the eternal question: is there really such a thing as a breakfast cookie? The answer is, unequivocally, yes. These Blueberry Muffin Cookies work great as a lunch dessert or a grab-and-go breakfast. You’ll love their soft, fresh taste. Blueberry Lemonade from Julie’s Eats & Treats Summer isn’t summer without at least one glass of fresh lemonade. Blueberry Lemonade is pretty easy to make, and it pairs well with a fresh garden salad or steak. Made from Scratch Blueberry Pancakes This recipe comes from Creations by Kara and is perfect for a Saturday morning breakfast. You will need the following ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, eggs, butter, vanilla, and fresh or frozen blueberries. Want even more blueberry flavor? Make this blueberry syrup to drown your pancakes in. Baked Blueberry Oatmeal Cups from Call Me PMC This is another breakfast recipe for anyone who has to deal with hectic mornings. Make these Baked Blueberry Oatmeal Cups on a Sunday night and enjoy them for the rest of the work week! Blueberry Banana Protein Smoothie from Amy’s Healthy Baking You can have this Blueberry Banana Protein Smoothie for breakfast or drink it after your next run or workout. Protein shakes can be heavy, powdery, and hard to swallow, but this recipe uses natural and fresh ingredients to make a light and healthy treat. Go crazy with blueberries! Share your creations with members of our Gilbert apartment community! Do you have any good blueberry recipes? Give us a recipe in the comments, and we’ll try it out!